Toolbox Talk: Near-Miss Reporting

Why it matters

For every serious injury there are many near misses that gave warning. Reporting them lets us fix problems before someone is hurt.

Talking points

• What it is: a near miss is an event that didn't cause injury or damage but could have. Examples are a dropped tool, a slip you caught or an almost-collision.
• Report it fast: tell your supervisor or use the reporting system the same day.
• No blame: the goal is to fix the cause, not to punish the person. A good culture rewards reporting.
• Look for the cause: ask why it happened: the task, the tools, the layout, the pressure or the plan.
• Fix and share: put a fix in place and tell the crew what changed, so that everyone learns.
• Follow up: check that the fix works, and thank the person who spoke up.

Ask the crew

1. What near misses have you seen on this job lately?
2. Why do some near misses go unreported here?
3. What would make it easier to report?

Before we start work today: Share one recent near miss and decide on one fix the crew can make today.

Who attended

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Source: OSHA: Incident investigation. General safety information only, not legal advice; follow your employer’s program, the manufacturer’s instructions and current regulations. Keep signed sheets with your safety records. FirstDayTraining.com · Todd Allyn Media Inc.